Herstmonceux & Wartling

Jenny Seale

SUNDAY WALKS: On Sunday meet at 10am at Hailsham Leisure Centre for a four to five mile walk, with cafe stop, in the Roedean area. Ring Trudy 845597 if you would like to go along and for any more details.

PARISH CHURCH: Family Services are always the first Sunday in the month at Herstmonceux Church at 9.45am. At the beginning of the year, a letter was sent out asking for families to act as sides people during the service. This means giving out books, taking the collection, doing the reading and generally making people feel welcome. If you would like to be included can you contact Pam, either by phone 833079 or at pamwartling@gmail.com or speak to her at the services. Just let her know when you would be free to help and they would be very grateful. Thank you.

EXTEND EXERCISE: Starting of afternoon classes of Movement and Music for older ladies and gentlemen and less able people of all ages on Thursday from 2pm to 4pm. The cost per meeting is £3 and is held at the Herstmonceux Village Hall with a trained and insured teacher. The current class has 20 members of all abilities. All welcome to join. An advanced class will meet on Monday evenings 7pm to 9pm at £5 per session. Telephone 01323 832358 or mobile 07801849306 for details.

POLITICS IN THE PUB: Herstmonceux Labour Group having increased its membership tenfold this year, is now meeting regularly. Politics in the Pub, an informal gathering where they discuss action on local and national issues, is held monthly on the last Wednesday of every month at 8pm in the Woolpack Inn. All welcome. For more information, please call Andrew Watson on 01323 832332 or email: awatson@nad38.freeserve.co.uk

DEFIBRILLATORS: There are now two AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator) fitted in the Parish, accessible at all times for emergency use. One at The Bulls Head in Boreham Street and the other in Wartling at The Lamb. These units were purchased via the parish council with the help of funds obtained from Wealden District Council’s Community Dividend by our District Councillor Pam Doodes. The British Heart Foundation and Eastbourne Ambulance Community First Responders have provided two training sessions covering both the use of these units and associated CPR. These units have full audio instructions so, even if you haven’t received training, to use in an emergency just follow the voice prompts. If you would like to find out more about First Responders, get some first aid training, or even join them, please visit their website www.eastbourneresponders.com.

LOCAL HEROES: Herstmonceux: Local Heroes, our village and the 1914-18 War. How did the First World War (also known as the Great War, or the War to end all Wars) affect our village? Who were all those local people (mostly listed on the War Memorial in All Saints Church), who died in the Great War? Where did they live? What jobs did they do before the war began? What else was going on in the village at the time? We will be holding an exhibition from Friday to Sunday, July 1 to 3, at All Saints Church to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Please put the dates in your diary now.

Will you help? Do you belong to a village business, society or organisation that had started by 1918? What was it like 100 years ago? Who lived in your house then? What it was like at the time of the First World War? What were your parents, grandparents or other ancestors doing / wearing / eating etc in 1914-18? Do you have any photographs, old clothes, letters, diaries or other memorabilia? Please contact me, or speak to Alan Brown or Vivien Bowles of the Wartling History Society, if you would like to be involved. Melinda Stone m.g.stone@btinternet.com 01323 833976 evenings.

ANNUAL QUIZ NIGHT: This event will be held on Saturday February 6. The PPG will be hosting the now infamous hilarious quiz at Herstmonceux Village Hall in aid of the Health Centre to raise funds for Medical equipment. Please watch this space for further information on the evening.

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